Dispensing mechanism for balers or the like



July 26, 1949. v v G. B. HILL 2,477,059 7 DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR BALERS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 19, 1948 INVENTOR. GEORGE E H/LL Patented July 26, 1949 DISPENSING MECHANISM FQR BALERS "GB/THE LIKE George B. Hill, Ottumwa, Iowa, assignortoDcere Manufacturing (30.,Dubuque, Iowa, at -corporaticn of Iowa Application February 19, 1948, SeriaII NBJQABW 12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to dispensing mechanism for balin'g -presses or like machines that handle material and ultimately deliver 'the .material in the form of bales or bundles tied with wire or twine.

in the usual bali-ng press which is equipped with means for g'ather ing and baling hay, there is commonly provided one or more containers for holding one or more cells or balls of wire or twine used'in 'the baling "operation. In one Well known type of baler wherein tying is accomplished by the use of wire, there is provided a .pair of boxescachof which :holds-a coil of wire and each of which has an aperture'd'wa'll through which the wire is fed to the tying mechanism. As the wire 'is ultimately used up, it must be replenished from time to time and it is conventional practice to construct "the'wire containers in such manner that portions thereof may be removed for the purpose of inserting new c'oils of 'wire, after which the portions are replaced and operation of the machine is resumed.

The task of adding new coils of wire to the wire boxes is :not without its complications, and

it is accordingly the principalobject of the present invention to provide means whereby the replenishing of wire or twine is greatly facilitated. An object of 'the invention in this respect is -to provide -a wire boxin whichthe dispensing opening is relatively large so that thewire may easily be inserted therethrough and to provide an 'attachable and detachable member which may be removed from the box while thenew coil of wireis bein'gadded andwhich has relatively small guiding apertures for receiving the wire, the arrangement being such "that the 'wire may be passed through the smaller apertures while the member is detached from the container, after which the member "may be attached to the container for normal operation. Another important object of the invention relates to the provision in suchmemberof means for closing the containing portions of the boxes after the wire has been'inserted therein. Still other objects of the invention relate to a memberof the'type'described'that is simple in design and easy to manufacture at a low'cos't; toprovidebearing or guide elements of apertured construction in which the portions forming the aperturesar'e hardened against undue wear; and to -r'irovide a member that may be readily attached to esisting 'wire boxes.

The iforegoing and other important objects and desirable rfea'tures inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the "art as "the disclosure thereof is 2 made in detail in the following descriptionoi a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the accompanying 'ShEGtjOf drawings, in which Figure :1 is a perspective Tview of the container structure shown with .the detachable member in place;

Figure 2 a perspective view of the box or container as viewed irom its opposite ends, or in the direction indicated .by the arrow and the encircled numeral 21in Figure 1;

Figure 341s a perspective view of the container shown inF'igure l and'illustraating the detachable member in detached position and further showing the manner in which the wire or twine is fed through the apertures in the container and then through the apertures in the detachable member;

Figure :4 is an enlarged exploded view showing the construction of a preferred type of releasable latch for holding the detacha'ble member in place on the container structure; and

Figure 51s a perspective-view similar to Figure 1 but showing -"a modified form of the invention.

In the following specification and appended claims reference is made to certain structural parts of the container as extending in defined directions; ror example, longitudinally, laterally, vertica'llyyetc. This language is-em'ployed for't'he purposes of convenience and "brevity and it is not intended thereby to exclude from the scope of the invention similar or equivalent structures disposed in other positions and having components extending in ---other directions. Further, the invention is particularly adapted for use in Wire box or-container construction of thetype forming the sub-j'ect matter of assignee's copending application, {Serial No. .-636,890, filed December 1945. 'However, the general principles of the invention areapplicable'to constructions of other types, regardless of whether wire or 'twine is being handled.

The containerstructure includes an inner box It and an cuter box l2 having a "common dividing wall 13. The structure is mounted on the baling press of "the well known type to which it is especially "applicable in such a position that the longer dimension of the structure is longitudinal with'respect to the direction of travel of the bal'er. As stated above, it is immaterial what position the structure occupies, since the positions will undoubtedly Vary accorc'ling to the general design of the machin -on which the com tainer is used. The common-wa ll 1 3 will -there"' fore be referred to as extending longitudinally and the specific construction of each box will be similarly referred to. With this in mind, it

will be seen that the box l includes an outer wall l4 which is parallel to the wall l3. However, the wall l4 in longitudinal extent is substantially only half as long as the wall I3. The wall l4 and wall portion l3 are joined at their tops by a transverse upper wall l5 and at their bottoms by a transverse lower wall IS. The construction of the box I2 is very similar to that of the box I0, except that the box l2 has an outer wall 11 parallel to and opposite the other half of the common wall I3. The wall His joined at its top to the wall portion l3 by means of a transverse upper wall l8 and is further joined at its bottom to the wall portion l3 by means of a transverse lower wall |9.' The boxes l0 and I2 are thus disposed substantially in sideby-side but longitudinally offset relationship with the box l2 ahead of the box l0 (when considered with respect to the direction of travel of the machine to which the container structure is attached). The wall section I! ofthe box I2Vmay thus be considered an outer or'forward wall which is ahead of the rear-portion of the wall It that forms an inwardly disposed wall for the box 59.

The forward end of the box I2 is open, as at 20, but is normally barred by a bail member 2| which has leg portions cooperatingrin an obvious manner with appropriately aligned apertures in' the opposite wall portions l3 and it. The opposite or rear end of the box I2 is open, as at .22. A coil of wire (or ball of twine if twine is used) may be inserted into the box l2 through either end or 22 in a manner to be described below; L

The forward end of :thebox It] is of open construction, as at 23 5(Figure 2),, but is preferably permanentl barred by 'a transverse member 24. The opposite or rear end of the-box I6 is open, as at 25, andis barred by a removable bail member 26 which has leg portions cooperating in an obvious manner with appropriately aligned apertures 21in the opposite wall portions- [3 and I4 (Figure 3). The box I0 is lik wise adapted to carry a'coil of wire or ball of twine which may be inserted through the open end '25 in a manner to be subsequently set forth.

In Figure 3 the box I2 is shown as containing a coil of Wire.28 andthe-box 10 is shown as containing a second .coilof wire-30. The outer wall I1 of the box I2 is apertured at 3| to provide adispensing opening through which wire from the coil 28 is fed, as at 32. The opening or aperture 3| is relatively large so that the wire 32 from the coil 28 may be easily fed' therethrough. The inner wall for the box as provided by the rear portion of the common wall I3 is similarly apertured, as at 33, to provide a dispensing opening through which Wire, as at 35, is fed from the coil 30. The opening 33 is relatively large like the opening'3l for the same purpose. 7

The improvement constituting the present invention resides in the provision of an attachable and detachable member generally designated by thenumeral 40. This member is generally 2- shaped, as viewed from above, and is provided with a first longitudinal portion '41-, a second longitudinal portion 42 and a third portion 33 which extends laterally and cross connects the two portions 4| and 42, When the member 4i! is in use, or attached to the container structure, as shown in Figure 1, the portion 4! thereof lies against the outer wall I! of the box l2; and the portion 42 lies against theinner'wall providedby theprear portion ofthe common wall attached tothe container structure the apertures a 44 and 45 are respectively in alignment with the apertures 3| and 33 in the container structure. Each of the apertured portions of the member portions 4| and 42 is preferabl formed by means of an apertured and hardened plate secured, as by welding or riveting, to the member 49 in the respective positions noted above. The apertures 44 and 45 are relatively small, each having an inside diameter only sufiiciently large enough to loosely receive the wire 32 (35) and to provide a guide for said wire. Inasmuch as the material that is used to providethe apertured plate is relatively hard, wear on the member 45 is cut to a minimum. V .7

The wall I! of the forward box |2is provided with a pair of vertically spaced apart lugs 36 to provide guide means for. slidably receiving the forward portion 4| of the member 4|]. The wall portion I3 of the box 10 is provided with a pair ofsimilar'lugs 41 to provide similar guide means for slidablyreceiving the portion 42 of the mem ber 40. The lugs 46 are spaced apart and have angularly related portions to overlap and receive the forward member portion 4| so that the member may be withdrawn and inserted longitudinally with respect to the general extent of the container structure. An intermediate portion of the member portion 42 is reduced in width, as at 48, so as to clear the lugs 41' when the member 40 is moved laterally after first being moved longitudinally, as will be set forth below. -The rearmost portion of the member 42 is, as at 49, of

the same width as the member portion 4|, so that this portion 49 will be engaged by the lugs 41 to prevent lateral displacement of the member to with respect to the container structure. 7

From the description thus far it:will be seen that the member 40may be detached from and P attached to the container structure by means of shifting or sliding the member into and out of position and into and out of engagement with the lugs or guide means 46 and 41, According to another feature of the invention, there is provided manually releasable means, for holding the 'member 4 in the position'of Figure 1. This means is indicated initsentirety by the numeral 50 and, as best shown:in Figure 4, includes parts making up a spring pressed releasable latch including a carrying pin- 5|, a carrying -barr52, an

operating handle 53, a coil spring 54, a washer 55, and a cotter pin 56.- The pin 5| may be secured inany suitable fashion to a rear portion of the portion 4| of the member 40 and projects outwardly therefrom to receive the carrymgbar 7 52 by means of an aperture 51 in the latterz The carrying bar is further apertured at, each of its opposite ends, as at 58, to receive the legs ofthehandle 53, which is preferably in the form ofa U or bail. Each leg may be upset, as at 59, to provide means for determining the limit to which the leg portions extend through the apertures 58. The handle 53 and carrying bar 52 are preassembled by-an operation including the insertion of the leg portions through the aper-r tures 58, after which these portions are welded or otherwise rigidly securedtogether so that the handle and bar become, in eflect, a single mem-' her. The carryingpin 5| is then inserted through the aperture 51 in the bar and the pin receives the coil spring 54 and washer 55, after which the cotter pin 56 is inserted through an opening 60 in the outer end of the pin 5|. Ihe action of the spring 54 is such as to urge the handle 53 and bar 52 inwardly against the outer face of the portion 4| of the member 40. The leg portions of the handle 53 project inwardly at 6| and, when the member 49 is in the position of Figure 1, the leg portions 6| are received in apertures 62 provided in the rear portion of the outer wall I! of the forward box |2 (Figure 3).

In the modified form of the invention shown in. Figure 5, the container structure may be identical to that previously described, with the ex ception that the apertures 21 for receiving the stop or bail means 26 may be omitted. The member 40 is replaced by a member T40 and the two members are similar in all respects with the exception that the member |4U has, in addition to portions |4|, I42 and I43, a fourth laterally extending portion |-49 which, when the member I49 is in position, as shown in Figure 5, extends at least partially across the rear opening 25 in the box Hi. The member I40 may be provided with a spring pressed release means 50 such as that previously described.

In the use of a container construction provided with the member 40, as described in Figures 1-4, the boxes Ill and [2 are respectively adapted to carry and dispense the coils of wire 30 and 28. Assuming that it is desired to add these coils (or balls of twine if twine is used) to the boxes, the member 40 if in place, is first removed by releasing the means'E't to withdraw the leg portions 6| of the handle 53 from the apertures 62 in the wall i! of the box I 2. The member 40 may then be shifted rearwardly until the forward end of the member portion 4| is free of the guide means 48 on the box l2, and until the reduced portion 48 of the member portion 42 is clear of the guide means 41 on the outer wall of the box It. The member 40 may then be moved outwardly away from the container structure. Inasmuch as the stop or ball member 26 is of U-shape and the bight portion thereof is sufficiently wide and extends lateral-1y a suflicient extent at the wall portion 3, it will not interfew with rearward shifting of the member 49. However, since the member 26- must be removed before a coil of wire can be inserted in the box l0, it may be found desirable to remove the member 26 before removing the member 46. The members 26 and 40 having been removed, the open ends 22 and 25 of the boxes l2 and IE1 are now unobstructed and the coils 28 and so may be inserted therein. The forward open end 20 of the box I 2 is barred by the member 2| and the forward open end 23 of the box It is barred by the permanent transverse member 24, and the coils cannot escape from the boxes at the forward ends thereof. Inasmuch as the apertures 5| and 53 are relatively large, it will be an easy matter to pass the: wire portions 32 and 35 respectively therethrough, the member 40 still being detached from the container structure, as indicated in Figure 3. Since the member 43 is still detached, it will be quite an easy matter to thread the wire portions 32 and 35 respectively through the apertured portions 44' and 45 Itwill beseen in this respect that if the apertures and housing portions 44 and 45 had been provided directly on the outer walls of the container structure', it" would be comparatively difficult to: thread the wire portions 33 and 35 respectively through the apertured portions 44 and 45.

With the procedure set forth above having been accomplished, the member 40 is then remounted on the container structure, it being necessary only to keep the wire portions 32 and 35 taut so that they do not become bent behind the member portions 4| and 42 as these portions are placed against the wall portions I3 and H. .The member 46 is initially positioned against these outer walls of the container so that thereduced part 48- of the portion 42 is received between the lugsll and the forward end of the member portion s! is rearwardly of the lugs 56. The member 40Jis then held by the operator with one hand while he pulls the operating handle 53 outwardly against the spring 54, after which he may shift the member 4|] forwardly so that the members ll and 42 are respectively engaged by the lugs t5 and 41; he may then release the handle 53, and. the spring 54% will urge the handle inwardly so that the leg portions 6| thereon enter the apertures E2 in the rear part of the outer wall of the forward box I2. It will be noted that the member portion 53 that cross connects the member portions All and 42 lies across the rear opening 22 of the box IE and thus forms an abutment means engageable with the coil 28 to prevent escape of the coil 28 from the rear end 22 of the box. The combined action of the lugs '66 and 41 and the releasable means 59 secures the member "ill in place. The bail member 26 is then replaced at the rear end opening 25 of the box l0 to pre-- vent escape of the coil 30.

According to the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 5, the lateral extension I49 at the rear end of the member I42 takes the place of the bail or bar member 23 and thus serves to provide means for retaining the coil to. Other steps in the procedure of attaching the member It!) to or detaching said member from the container structure will be the same as those described above in connection with the attaching and detaching of the member 40.

Other features and advantages of the pre ferred forms of the invention set forth above will undoubtedly occur to those skilled in the art, as likewise will numerous modifications and alterations in the preferred structure illustrated, all of which may be accomplished without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as de-- fined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wire or twine-dispensing container for baling presses or the like wherein the container is a generally longitudinal structure having a pair of laterally spaced, generally parallel walls oifset longitudinally and each wall has an aperture therein through which wire or twine may be dispensed from a plurality of coils or balls disposed at one side of the walls, the improvement comprising: a generally z shaped member having first and second generally parallel portions that are spaced apart laterally and offset longitudinally on the order of the container walls, and fur ther including a third, lateral portion cross-connesting said and second portions; said member in use b "r its first and second portions lying respec vely against the container walls and,

its third portion bridging the space between said walls said first and second portions having dispensing apertures respectively lining up with the aforesaid wall apertures; and means for ren'iov ably securing said member to the container,

2. The improvement defined in claim 1", further amped characterized in that: the means for removably securing the member to the container includes guide means providing for longitudinal shifting of the member while holding the member-against lateral displacement relative to the container, and releasable latch means normally holding the member against longitudinal shifting relative'to the container. I V

3. In a container as in claim 1 wherein the ap-'- ertures in the walls are relativelylarge to facilitate the insertion of wire or twln'e'therethrough, the improvement defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: the dispensing apertures in the member portions are relatively small to facilitate the guiding of such wire or twine.

4. The invention defined in claim 3, further characterized in that: the dispensing apertures in the member portions are respectively formed in plate-like elements of hardened material attached to said portions. 1

5. In a wireor twine-dispensing container for baling presses or thelike wherein the container is a generally longitudinal structure having a wall at one side of which is disposed a coil or ballof wire or twine to be dispensed through an aperture in the wall, the improvement comprising: a member having a first portion lying against the wall and including a dispensing-aperture'for alignment with the wall aperture, and further including a second portion extending laterally from the first portion to provide an abutment engageable with the coil or ball of wire or twine; and means for securing the member to the box. 6. In a wireor twine-dispensing container for baling presses or the like wherein the container is a generally longitudinal structure having a box including opposite generally parallel side walls and having one end open to receive a coil or'ball of wire or twine between the walls and abutment means at the other end to retain such coil or spool, one of the walls having an aperture therein through which such Wire or twine may be dispensed, the improvement comprisingi a member having a first portion lying against the apertured wall of the box and having a dispensing aperture therein for alignment with said wall aperture, and a second portion extending laterally from the first portion and at least partially across the open end of the box to provide an abutment for engagement with the coil or ball in the box; and means for removably securing the member to the box. r I

'7. In a wireor twine-dispensingcontainer for baling presses or the like wherein the container is a generally longitudinal structure having an outer longitudinal wall and an inner longitudinal wall arranged generally in laterally spaced 'par allelism and longitudinally OlTset so that one is ahead and outwardly of the other and behind each of which is a coil or ball of wire or twine to be fed through a dispensing aperture in the wall, the improvement comprising:' a member attachable to and detachable from the container and including first and second generally parallel portions spaced apart laterally and oifset longitudi-.

nally on the order of the container walls and in use lying respectively along the outer and inner walls and having dispensing apertures respectively aligned with the wall apertures, and fur.- ther including a third portion cross-connecting the first and second portions and laterally bridging the space between said walls, and a fourth portion on the second portion and extending laterally therefrom and inwardly as respects the inner container wall.

8, A wire for twine dispensing container for baling press es or the like, comprising: a box having opposite walls and open at one end to receive a coil or ball of wire or twine between said walls; means providing an aperture in one of said Walls through which wire or twine may be dispensed;

a member havingfirst and second angularlyre lated portions, the'first of which lies against the apertured box wall and-is a'pertured insubstan-- tial alignment with said wall'aperture; and the second ofiwhich extends at least partlyacrossthe open end of the box to retain the coil or ball against displacementat that end .ofthef box; guide means-provided on said apertured wall and engaging the first portion of the member to carry the member slidably on the box for removal from and attachmentto the box; and releasable means engageable between the member andthe box and;

normally holding the member against removal.

9. The invention" defined in claim 8, further characterized in that: fthe releasable means includes a spring-pressed handle element carried by the member and including a p'ortionengaging a portion of said apertured box wall.

10. A wire-Tor twine-dispensing container for baling presses or the like, comprising: a generally vertical wall at the inner side of which may bedisposed a ball or coil of twineor wireand having a relatively large opening through which a strand of twine or wire may be readily passed for dispensing thereof at the outer side of the wall; means for receiving a ball or coil of twine or wire at the inner'side of the wall including a generally horizontal shelf portion on which such ball.

or coil may be supported, and a retaining portion extending laterally from the wall in generally the same direction as the shelf for holding such ball.

or coil against displacement past one end of the Wall; means movably associated with the vertical wall, including an elementarranged for movement from a first position away from the wallto a second position overlying the outer side of the wall and having a dispensing aperture relatively smaller than; the aforesaid .wall opening and adapted to receive the aforesaid strand of wire or twin'e while said element is'in its first position so' that insertion of such strand throughv said aperture is facilitated, said means further includ- W ing a laterally extending portion connectedto the apertured element and positionable at and transverse tothe end of the wall opposite the afore- 7 said retaining portion when said element is moved to its second position, whereby said member re-V tains the'ball or coil against escape at said OPPO'r' site end of the wall; and means 'releasably securing said element in its second position. I

11. A wireor twine-dispensing container for baling pressesor the like, comprising: a generally vertical wall structure at the inner side of which may be'disposed'a pair of balls or coils of twine or wire and havinga pair of relatively large openings through each of which a strand of twine or wire maybe readily passed for dispensing thereof at :the outer side 'ofthe wall structure; means for receiving such balls or coilsiof twine or Wire at the inner side'of thewall structure for supporting the balls or coilsagainst vertical displacement relative tothe wall structure and relative to each other; retaining means including portions extending laterally from the Wall structure and generally in the same direction as the supporting means forholdingsuch balls'or coils against displacement past one end of the wall structure;

means mo'vably associated with, the wall struc ture',inc1uding an element arranged in mor ment from a first position away from the wall structure to a second position overlying the outer side of the wall structure and having a pair of dispensing apertures relatively smaller than the aforesaid wall openings and respectively adapted to receive the aforesaid strands of wire or twine while said element is in its first position so that insertion of such strands respectively through said apertures is facilitated, said means further including laterally extending portions connected to the apertured element and positionable at and transverse to the end of the wall structure opposite the aforesaid retaining portion When said element is moved to its second position, whereby said member retains the balls or coils against escape at said opposite end of the Wall; and means releasably securing said element in its second position.

12. A wireor twine-dispensing container for baling presses or the like, comprising: a box having opposite walls and open at one end to receive 10 a coil or ball of wire or twine between said walls; means providing an aperture in one of said walls through which Wire or twine may be dispensed; a member having first and second angularly related portions, the first of which lies against the apertured box wall and is apertured in substantial alignment with said wall aperture, and the second of which extends at least partly across the open end of the box to retain the coil or ball against displacement at that end of the box; means cooperating between the apertured wall and the first portion of the member to mount the member on the box for movement toward and away from the box; and releasable means engageable between the member and the box and normally holding the member against movement relative to the box.

GEORGE B. HILL.

No references cited. 

